Ok, the FMod trouble is this: http://i.imgur.com/hqstfK0.png. Someone forgot to add this file or not to load it. ;)

no this is impossible. The file is not loaded. Something else is happening, I think it is Opengl failing to construct a valid context or something. I t is definitely not the file missing (it is loaded against a bool that is false at that point)

Beautiful stuff, obviously. I liked how this one was mostly quite subtle and consistent for an ASD "megademo", instead of feeling like 5 different demos stuck together. My only real gripes are that the kinect capture part (in the screenshot) seemed visually very disconnected from the rest of the demo, and the music could've used a little extra twist in it towards the end.

Navis: Jup. Noticed that too, as the error messages differ and there seemed to be no problem with file access rights etc. Still strange that the sound error msg slips through like that. Anyway, pls fix. I like to watch good demos in realtime and not rely on messy youtube caps.

Nice particle stuff and the color-light-painting effect in the end looked really, really good.
And as always with ASD, things in general simply look great - color choices, the amount of blur, movement paths etc. - these are things that can lift a demo that extra level.
Don't get what people are complaining about with the music, I think it has that certain "ASD-feel" that goes very well with the visuals.

Kinda mixed feelings about this. Recycled effects and transitions. But i liked the music more than effects, music fits nicely for the colorscheme and over all mood. Still, the best ASD demo musically, designally, codally, colorally is stillelally Animal Attraction :D

This belongs to an entirely new category rather than a standard demo compo.
How about a Beyond Demos Compo? Other groups should be pulling their design and direction together to make ASD run for its "money" next time.

Without a doubt, this is perfection! Totally what the demoscene is all about, to give it all in an elegant wrapped presentation! The last scene is really what makes "we are all connected - the connection must connect to the new generation". Really awesome!

Really great demo, particles fest! it's a bit long but not boring at all (except for the last scene with couple mocap, let's forgot this awkward one).
I especially loved the "waves at moonlight" and "monolith goes to the sky" scene :)

Really great demo, particles fest! it's a bit long but not boring at all (except for the last scene with couple mocap, let's forgot this awkward one).

Funny how we can have so such a different taste, I found this to be one of the most touching scenes the demoscene produced in a long time. It really struck me and hit an emotional nerve in a good way. Besides that it looked awesome as well. The storytelling in that scene is just epic, it goes way furtrher than expected from a demoscene production, touching some heavy themes in a happy, positive way.

It crashed halfway through; I don't see anything obvious in the log (just many shader warnings) but let me know if you're interested.
Also, the aspect ratio was all messed up for most resolutions I tried. :(

Some re-use of concepts and tech as per usual from ASD, and the musical style is not my cup of tea although I have to admit it works together with the visuals.

But apart from that... what a wonderful demo! Fantastic colors, jaw-dropping transitions between scenes and color schemes, awesome "story-telling" and atmosphere, and I didn't find the last scene awkward at all, just the contrary - I could relate to it and it touched me. Just wonderful!

You know what, it's a much better watch the second time than it was the first, although the video processing scene feels painfully flow-breaking and the demo ends rather abrupt after that.

My big problem is - as always - with the sound mix, which this time shows admirable restraint on the guitars (which still sound horrid) but the orchestral library would've needed some tweaks on the envelopes, and the whole mix is all over the place. I think this is the point where you will need an outside ear to take a listen before you call it done.

knowing the personal backgrounds etc i can understand the significance of the end part, but it was quite disconnected to the rest of the demo in visual style and emotionally. nonetheless the "first part" was a good show and good continuation on that effect you did as noiseprod earlier with ps :)

With all due respect for your technical brilliance, Navis - i love the looks but i can't stand the content. Monolith symbolism, morphing animals, that crow (again). And that birth scene INCLUDING baby samples.

The strings pulled here are off my cheese-scale. I just can't stand James Cameron movies either. Sorry.

Beautiful and touching. As a classical violinist the music really touched me (especially the start where the orchestra was tuning). You really don't get that kind of things much in demos. As a demo coder I admire your style, flow and the technical skills.

I'm really troubled - totally appreciate the effort with all of this fantastic visuals, concept and hours of hard work on coherence and color optimization. On the other hand it's simply as boring as most of the other ASD demos, with music which drives me insane. Tried to watch it without audio and gave up in, say, 2/3 of it. Just not my cup of tea :/

Thumb up for the deserved winning of the compo. I have already forgot what was the demo about :)

Stunning visuals. Good length to dive into. Music has its ups and downs although i find the variety of sounds and interpretation of the same theme really enjoyable. Loved the ride and for sure will take it again.

almost a really amazing demo with brilliant visuals and the usual excellent transitions and so much happening on the screen that you just want to watch it again and again to see whats all happening ...

... if it just wasnt for that waaaaay to long anticlimax from 5:50 to 7:30.

all in all very well done for sure, but somehow it left me with a feeling of less (cheesyness) would have been more (amazing).

T-101: I believe this falls under exception to copyright under fair use. The idea is that exceptions (use without original permission) can be given for limited use under certain conditions. We believe the use here (as part of a pastiche, use of very small, inconsequential span of original film at <1%, on a non-commercial work) falls under this category.
If we are to get trouble for that, even though it is quite clear that is a trivial part of the experience, I'm up for removing it in a new final or give credits in the readme; I don't think it was Amusic's intention to infringe a copyright in the traditional sense...

Navis: noby is right that Finland doesn't recognize Fair Use, but I am not debating on the legal side of the issue here. I was just pointing out that legal or not, using a sample from a copyrighted source violates Assembly competition rules. Rules which apply to all entries, especially this year when all demos were broadcast live on national tv.

It is a pleasure to watch indeed. Additional plus is a subtle message behind, maybe nothing conceptually/psychologically new, but at least it looks honest and personal. And visual form/expression fits the message very well.

Overall, I get impression that (for a while already) ASD stopped actually competing, but just have fun and realizing their dreams (like Mrs Escher's Nightmare ;)). And they actually can aford it and deserve it :)

The only remaining question is: how about VR version? (just kiddding :))

This is a demo with two clear parts that cry to be joined with something more tan a fade out. I would tried to mix the rendering also. Apart of that and some small particles that go trough big ones (sorry, I am a perfectionist, you know that from the jury preview), this is a great demo although I would ask for more protagonism in the music, like in previous demos.

And yes! you need more sound effects!!! of course there are some, but there are scenes with the monolith that feel pretty disconnected from the music without them.

What I liked most in this prod is how you used strings to achieve different effects or transitions, flowing through shapes or adding sudden intensity. Very nice.

Some parts felt out of place though. The camera direction change at 3'20 shocked me; it doesn't make sense and feels unjustified.

The ending scene has a visually very pleasing painting style, but not only it is completely different from the visual style of the rest of the demo, it is served as is after a fade to black, making it feel disconnected both from before and after parts (final credits screen). Its content also feels completely disconnected.

Last part is lovely, both music and graphics. But this demo for me is slightly ruined by the horrible camera shaking. It just doesn't fit and feels unnatural. I understand the attempt to make everything feel organic but for me this artificial over shaking ruins it.

Loved it. Virtuosic technique, wonderful deliberate style, particles/motion/capture is the next level, the imagery/symbolism maybe just slightly heavy-handed but that is subjective, for the most part very evocative.. Respect for keeping the prog rock vibe in the traditional ASD style!

- The rendering technique gets boring after a while (good thing you change it by the end)
- The continual shaky cameras are pretty much nonsensical: there's nothing either visually or musically that would hint that a camera should shake

Otherwise, impressive piece of work, both technically and artistically

Always hyped for ASD demos. It's been a long wait but I enjoyed this a lot, beautiful particles with ambient occlusion and cool transitions, but the end scene could've used something more to sell the realtime effect and the depth element of the kinect footage.

After watching it in realtime noticing all the details that weren't visible on the asm stream it feels like i've seen an entirely different demo. Need to take back my comment, now I had a true blast ! You guys rock hard

Unfortunately I keep losing my focus when watching this. At times there's too much movement going on all over the screen and the camera shaking doesn't help either. Also I really appreciate the amount of planning and work it takes to pull off these really long camera "shots" and the general seamlessness but I just dislike the idea when it comes to 3d scenes. It just seems too limiting to me. Anyway lot's of really good stuff. The ending segment for example. Maybe felt a bit cheesy but wth. It's good.

Well, fuck me sideways. Not only do you guys deliver consistently stunning demos, you've been doing it nonstop for over ten years now. That alone deserves neverending applause.
As for Monolith, I love how you manage to make the particles look like confetti with the soft shadows. Also that last scene is not only visually awesome, it's also full of emotion and tells a story.
Extra kudos to aMUSIC and Leviathan for once more making a fitting and atmospheric soundtrack.

Great, lovely visuals, as always. Soundtrack is also much better done than usual I'd say, although that electronic kick seems to lack a bit of oomph and the music seems somewhat disconnected from the visuals at times (e.g. around 4:50 in the capture - occasional absolute silence but the visuals just keep going). Still:

Humpback whale! Multiple Saturns! Particles that makes you feel dirty and you don't mind it! Soundtrack was a bit mainstream for me (I guess... not demoish enough, or something...), and yes, we all know hugging and family life are um positive things. Flock of birds was a bit much. Some of the inspirations from Kubrick obviously.

especially I like those parts with "harder" music and cloud morphing visuals, crazy good between 2nd and 4rd minute; getting back on 5th + pleasing semi-drawn style at the end;
meaning? my impression: reincarnation story? monolith = our families = know each others for many generations.
Looking forward for explanation directly from Navis. :)